| Parksfest connects nature with identity and imagination | Parksfest connects nature with identity and imagination | <div class="ExternalClass16F3FAA76751440EBCABAEF7E51CE56F"><p>Hundreds of nature enthusiasts participated in Metro Vancouver’s three-day <a href="/events/parksfest/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">Parksfest</a>, a series of public events that explored how nature shapes our identity, culture and imagination. </p><p>With the theme of <em>‘The Necessity of Nature in a Changing World,’</em> Parksfest highlighted the need to protect green spaces for present and future generations and featured workshops and presentations from award-winning filmmakers, authors, First Nations historians, academics, conservationists and park interpreters. </p><p>Chief Rhonda Larrabee, of the Qayqayt First Nation, kicked off the event, followed by an inspiring talk by keynote speaker Dr. Wade Davis, who emphasized the importance of protecting a northern B.C. valley, known to the First Nations as the Sacred Headwaters. Some 305 people heard about the struggles to protect this pristine wilderness, where three of Canada's most important salmon rivers – the Stikine, Skeena and Nass – originate. </p><p>The following evening, 91 youth and young adults attended Youth Film Night, which featured a screening of <em>The Peel Project</em> – a tale of six artists as they paddle into the largest intact watershed left in North America – and participated in a panel discussion with the director, an environmental advocate and a scientist.</p><p>That last day saw 198 park partners and volunteers participate in a day of educational and skill building workshops that dealt with everything from Land Based Reconciliation and the Fraser River White Sturgeon to Engaging Multicultural Audiences, Empowering Communities through Citizen Science and Connecting to Nature through Story and Art.</p></div> | http://www.metrovancouver.org/metroupdate/PublishingImages/issue48-parksfest.jpg | 2018-12-19T08:00:00Z | GP0|#3063252b-10c7-407c-bea0-257765670655;L0|#03063252b-10c7-407c-bea0-257765670655|Issue 48;GTSet|#d14ffe11-45dc-48fb-8684-ff109cf15a74 | <div class="ExternalClass8DC106CCE7604F59A46453241AF43379"><p>Hundreds of nature enthusiasts participated in
Metro Vancouver’s three-day <a href="/events/parksfest/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">Parksfest</a>, a
series of public events that explored how nature shapes our identity, culture
and imagination. </p></div> | 0 | Youth Film Night - Panel Discussion |
